Vehicle-wheel tire.



No. 813,477. PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906. G. C. WORTHINGTON. VEHICLE WHEEL TIRE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 11, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

3 Q Q Q 'tmwigv o v PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

C. G. WORTHINGION. VEHICLE WHEEL TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.11, 1904.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

U M M CHARLES C. WORTHINGTON, OF DUNNFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

VEHICLE-WHEEL TIRE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1906.

Application filed Augus'tl]. 1904. Serial lilo, 220,358.

To all 7071/0771 it 71:07 mourn-n:

-Be it known that I, CHARLES C. WonrnlNGTON, citizen of the United States, residing at Dunnfield, Warren county, New Jersey, (whose post-office address is the same,) have invented certain new and useful Immovements in Vehicle-Wheel Tires, of which the following is a full, clear, andconcise speci out to like parts, Figure 1 is a side elevation ofa wheel embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view with a portion of the resillent outer part of the tire broken away. Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively side elevation and plan of a section of an under tire of modified construction. ig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of Fig. 4 on the line 5 5. Fig.

6 illustrates a modified shape of spring-rod.

Fig. 6 is another modification in the shape of the rod; Fig. 6 a further modification of the shape of the rod. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a portion of a wheel employing the rods of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of the cross-sectional contour of the wheel-tread of Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a further modification of the s gape and style of rod. Fig. 10 is a plan View of an under tire with a number of the rods'of Fig. 9 attached to it; and Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic cross-section of Fig. 10, illustrating the contour of the treadsurface thereof.

. The wheel-tireis composed of a plurality of spring-rods A, bowed into the shape of arches surrounding the rotatable inner part W or'wheel proper and disposed diagonally across the peripheral face thereof, as indicated in Figs. 1' and 2, so that the mid-porti'ons of the several arches occupy successively different radial positions around the wheel, thereby formin a wheel-tread which is substantially circular in outline. The arches are preferably placed side by side and close together, if not in actual con-tact, so that each is supported by its neighbors against trans rse or lateral pressures and also so that the working surface of the tread is practically a continuous surface. If the arches are not in actual contact, they may be supported by each other, if 1 desired, by means ofinterposed connecting-bonds S. (Indicatedin Fig. 4.) hen the structure of the wheel or the rotatable inner part will permit, the rods may be secured by their ends or the ends of their arches directly upon it: but in wheels of the type shown in Figs. 1 to T. which have usually a wooden fellyQ a sur-' rounding metallic band or under tire B is em. ployed which is attached to the folly in any suitable manner. This hand does not come into working contact with the ground and is required, therefore, to be only of such strength as-will withstand the bursting strain, of the wheel and such additional strains as may be exerted by the spring rods. The several rods may be secured to this under tire or to such other inner part as may be convenient in various ways, according to the shape of the rod, the structure of said inner part, or the fancy of the manufacturer. In the drawings the under tire is provided with parallel rows of sockets 0 around its opposite edges, and the opposite ends of the rods A are disposed in them in the diagonal relation described. The rod ends may be inclined, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the rods will be held therein by their own elasticit or tendency to spread. In Figs. 1 to 7 t e sockets are shown as extending entirely through the under tire, being tapered to receive the correspondingly-tapered ends of the rods; but this construction is obviously not essential, and other equivalent means may be employed for preventing the rods from piercing the parts beneath when the sockets are formed as perforations through the under tirc. In order to give a maximum of bearing-surface for the ends of the rods in Figs. 1 to 7, the sockets are formed in the two peripheral reinforcingfianges C C, and the under tire may bedecreased in weight with the same effect by cu tting away portions of the flanges between sockets, thereby forming a series of bosses D, projecting from the under tire.

It will be observed that the number and size of the rods which constitute the resilient outer part, their cross-sectional shape, as well as the extent that each of the rods or the 1 arches thereof embrace the rotatable inner same as inpneuinatic and rubber tires, and

the curvature of this surface may obviously be controlled by chan ing the curvatures of the several rods and t eir relative arrangement upon the inner part. Special formations of the rods Will also tend to vary the contour of the tread.

In Fig. 6 a form of rod is exhibited in which a spring bend or jog E is formed near each en ,'which serve to increase the resilience of the rod and also to distribute or equalize the strains to which it is subjected, so as to obviate any'tendency for the same to break near its points of attachment to the inner part. A Wheel providedwith rods of this shape hlS shown" in Fig. 7, and the cross-sectional shape orcontour of the tread of this wheel is indicated by the dotted lines of Fig. 8; The

spring-bends above mentioned may be further developed into the general Sshape shown by Fig 6*, giving further resilience, or additional resilience may be secured by providing the rods with one or more loops, as shown by Fig. 6*. It will be understood that the rods containing these auxiliary fea-' tures maybe relatively arranged upon and secured to their inner parts or under tires in the various manners contemplated above with reference to the rods of Fig. 1 and that their dimensions and shapes are. matters which may be varied without departing from this invention.

a In Figs. 9 to 11 the rods are each provided with two sprin -loops F F, one at-each end, and the extremities of the rods are shouldered and threaded, so as to be capable ofpositive attachment. The inner part of this form is composed of a band of thin material flanged over on its edges, as at G, for reinforcement and perforated to receive the threaded ends of the rods. This band or under tire ma obviously the secured to the felly of a whee as'in the -,-preceding "rectly to t e wire spokes H, as shown.

res, or it may be attached di- Furthermore, the contour of the tread-surface ofthis wheel may also be curved in va-v composed of a plurality of diagonally-disposed rious ways, according to the curvature of the centralportions of its rods and their relative. diSPOSItIOIIS.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire tg secure by United States 'ner circular band adapted to be secured to and a surrounding resilient outer part composed of a plurality of arched spring-rods disposed diagonally across the peripheral face of said inner part and arranged closely together for mutual reinforcement of each other against lateral or transverse pressure.

3. In a vehiclewheel, a rotatable lnner part and a surrounding resillent outer part composed of a plurality of arched spring.

rods arranged side by side in contact With each other and disposed diagonally across the peripheral face of said inner part.

4. In a,vehicle wheel, arotatable inner part and a surrounding resilient outer part composed of a plurality of arched springrods disposed across the peripheral face of said inner part with their opposite ends seated respectively at fixed distances apart in apertures in the opposite edges of said rotatable inner part.

5. In a vehicle-wheel tire, an under tire consisting of a circular band having its opposite edges thickened or reinforced, and a plurality of diagonal spring-rods formed as arches with their respective ends located at fixed distances a art and secured respec tively to the opposlte reinforced edges of said under tire, the mid-portions of said rods constituting a resilient wheel-tread.

6. In a vehicle '-.wheel,.a rotatable inner part and a surrounding resilient outer part consisting of a plurality of spring-rods formed as arches embracing the inner part and disposed diagonally across the peripheral face thereof, the respective ends of the arches being located onthe inner part at fixed distances apart and their mid-portions forming a resilient tread, in combination with bends in said arched rods arranged to distribute the strain therein,

7. In a vehicle wheel tire, a tread-surface composed of the mid-portions of a plurality of arched s ring-rods dis osed in diagonal position wit respect to -t e trad, an mner part to which the ends of said rods are secured at fixed distfmcesapart and'springbends in said rods.

8. In a vehicle-wheel tire, a treadesurface 9. In a Vehicle-wheel, an inner part formed formed as arches with their respective oppowith flanged edges, in combination with a plusite ends secured in said erforations. rality 01"" diagonal spring-rods in the shape In testimony whereo I have signed my of arches secured to said flanged edges at name to the specification in the presence of their opposite ends. two subscribing witnesses.

1-0. In a vehicle-wheel, an inner part of thin material having flanged edges and a se CHARLES WORTHINGTON' ries of perforations in said edges, in combi- Witnesses: nation with a plurality of s ring-rods diago- H. ROSSITER WORTHINGTON,

1o nally disposed around sai inner part and w W. J. P. MOORE. 

